3 Situations That Should Spur Emergency Eye Care

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Unsure of whether you should visit an emergency eye doctor in Pittsburgh, PA? Certain situations should spur you to make the call to ensure your visual health is protected. Take a look at a few situations that require emergency eye care.

1. Scratched Eye

One of the most common eye health emergencies, a scratched cornea can seem like no major deal. While your eye may burn and water after the corneal lens has been scratched, most people assume the issue will simply heal. However, scratches on the surface of the eye leave you prone to serious infections. Further, the potential scarring from a deep scratch can lead to long-term problems with your vision.

2. Swollen or Inflamed Eyes

Swollen or inflamed eyes can point to a series of visual health problems. If the eyelid is swollen, this may be a sign of blepharitis, chalazion, or something else. If the eye itself is swollen or inflamed, this could be anything from conjunctivitis (pink eye) to injury to the eye. All of these issues should be assessed by an optometrist.

3. Sudden Changes in Vision

Drastic changes in your vision that come about without a known cause should always be treated as eye health emergencies. Several things can be taking place within the eye or within your body that are detrimentally affecting your vision. For example, sudden changes in vision can be related to high blood pressure, but may also be a sign of high eye pressure affecting the retinal nerve.

Get Urgent Eye Care in Pittsburgh, PA

Just as an emergency situation with your body requires immediate attention, an emergency situation with your eyes requires the help of a Pittsburgh, PA eye doctor. Reach out to us at Lappen Eye Care to get immediate assistance if you believe you are dealing with an eye health emergency.

What Are the Most Common Eye Disorders?

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Worried about your vision? As we grow older and begin to experience the effects of normal aging, we often begin noticing changes in vision. We may need bifocals where we once had perfect eyesight, or we may have more difficulty reading small print. For most of us, it’s a simple fact of life, caused by growing older. However, sometimes there’s something more serious at work, which is why regular vision screenings with your optometrist in Pittsburgh, PA, are so important.

Refractive Errors

Refractive errors include near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Most of us are familiar with near-sightedness and farsightedness. Usually, the answer to both is corrective lenses. Astigmatism is caused by an imperfection in the curvature of your eye’s cornea and causes blurry vision at all distances. Presbyopia, lastly, makes it difficult for your eyes to focus on objects that are close up. Eyeglasses or contact lenses can usually correct refractive errors.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

This common eye condition related to aging causes a loss of central vision. You may also see straight lines as wavy. AMD is a result of damage to your eye’s macula — the part of your retina that allows you to see colors and fine details. Normal aging causes AMD in some people. Treatment includes making simple lifestyle changes, taking medication, and undergoing eye injections or laser treatment.

Cataracts

Cataracts happen when a cloud-like film develops over the lens of your eye, obscuring your vision. Many people develop cataracts as they age. Fortunately, they’re usually simple to treat through surgery that removes the cloudy lens and places an artificial one in its place.

Keeping regular appointments with your vision specialist can help with early detection of common eye disorders in Pittsburgh, PA. Call Lappen Eye Care today to schedule an appointment.

Lappen Eye Care – Should I Get Bifocals or Reading Glasses?

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When it comes to getting eyeglasses, things can be complicated. If you have a certain kind of vision problem, you may have very different correction needs for distance vision versus mid-point or near vision. And depending upon your age, you may have a choice ahead of you between bifocals and reading glasses. So, which one is better, you may ask your eye doctor in Greensburg, PA. Well, there are pros and cons to each:

Pros and Cons of Bifocals

Pro: Bifocals provide both near and far viewing in one convenient set of eyeglasses Greensburg, PA.

Con: Bifocals take time to get used to, since you have to look out of different areas of the lenses to achieve clear distance or near vision.

Pro: Bifocals are now available in a seamless version, which prevents others knowing you are wearing bifocals.

Con: Depending on your near, mid and distance vision needs, it can be challenging to find a good bifocal fit.

Pros and Cons of Reading Glasses

Pro: Reading glasses can be precision-made to fit your exact near vision needs, whether it’s for work, hobby activities, reading, etc.

Con: Since reading glasses are separate, it’s harder to ensure they are handy when you actually need to use them. For this reason, many people keep several reading glasses located around the home or office.

Pro: Reading glasses are now available in trendy and stylish designs, making them a more attractive option even for younger individuals

Con: It can get old very fast to have to remove regular eyeglasses and switch to reading glasses every time you need to see something in close proximity.

Talk to your eye doctor in Greensburg, PA about which option might be best for you between reading glasses and bifocals. Since every situation is different, you and your eye doctor will be able to come up with the best solution.

Am I At Risk for Glaucoma?

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Are you at risk for glaucoma? You might be and not even know it. Glaucoma is a condition that you might develop without ever realizing it, until permanent damage is done to your eyesight. If you’re at risk for glaucoma, it’s very important to see your eye doctor in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. Only your eye doctor can catch glaucoma in its earliest stages. Catching it early can help you avoid potential loss of eyesight.

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Everyone can get glaucoma, but some people are at higher risk than others. Genetics is one risk factor. If members of your family have been diagnosed with glaucoma, you may be at higher risk as well.

Below are some more risk factors that can make you more likely to get glaucoma.

  • Age. People over age 60 are more likely to get glaucoma.
  • Eyesight. If you’re extremely near-sighted or far-sighted, you may be more likely to get glaucoma.
  • Medication. People who take corticosteroid medications (especially for a long time) are at increased risk to get glaucoma.
  • Health. Some conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease put patients at an increased risk of getting glaucoma.

For a full list of risk factors, speak with your eye doctor at Lappen Eye Care.

How to Know If You Have Glaucoma

Since the early stages of glaucoma may have no symptoms, the only way to tell if you have glaucoma may be to get an eye exam in Pittsburgh. At Lappen Eye Care, we provide eye exams for patients in the Pittsburgh area. During the eye exams, we’ll check your eyes for glaucoma and other chronic conditions that could dramatically impact your eye health. To make an appointment, call today.

When Is It Time to See the Eye Doctor?

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Do you know when it’s time to see the eye doctor in Pittsburgh? Knowing the signs of a problem and how often eye doctors recommend coming in for check-ups can help you take care of your eyes. Visiting the eye doctor on a regular basis is important. Your eye doctor can help you avoid chronic eye conditions and help ensure that you’ve got the right prescription lenses for your needs.

See the Eye Doctor on a Regular Basis

Many eye doctors recommend that adults get their eyes examined on a regular basis – whether they need corrective lenses or not. The reason it’s important to see the eye doctor, even if you don’t need corrective lenses, is that some eye conditions have no symptoms in the early stages.

Seeing the eye doctor can help you identify those conditions before they lead to permanent damage. After age 60, eye doctors recommend that patients without corrective lenses see the eye doctor every year or two. If you wear corrective lenses, see the eye doctor annually, regardless of your age, to find out if your prescription has changed.

When You Notice Signs of a Problem

See the eye doctor when you notice signs of a problem. Signs of a problem include:

  • Blurry vision
  • Dry eyes
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Spots in your vision
  • Headaches
  • Eye pain

You Want New Glasses

Do you want new eye glasses in Pittsburgh? See the eye doctor! Your eye doctor will give you an eye exam. Once you have a new prescription, you can get new glasses.

Is It Time to See the Eye Doctor? Contact Lappen Eye Care

Make your next eye appointment with Lappen Eye Care. Call today!

2 Factors to Consider When Choosing the Eye Glasses for You

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The eye glasses you choose can have a big impact on your personal appearance and personal comfort. The eye glasses you choose can also affect your confidence. To select the best eye glasses for your needs, it’s important to work with an eye doctor in Pittsburgh that stocks quality eye glasses in a range of styles and colors. It’s also helpful to know what factors to consider when trying to choose your glasses. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Comfort

Choose glasses that feel comfortable on your face, but remember that glasses can be bent (within reason) to fit the contours of your face. Wire-rim glasses tend to be lighter than plastic glasses, so you’re less likely to notice their presence on your face once you get used to wearing them.

It’s important to choose glasses that fit your face, because the size of the glasses can’t be changed. If your glasses are too small or too large, they may become uncomfortable. The representative at the eye doctor can help you find glasses that fit you, so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need glasses that fit.

2. Appearance

Appearance is another important factor to consider when you’re trying to find the right glasses for you. Wire-rimmed glasses tend to be understated, while plastic glasses come in bold colors and often have thicker frames. As you’re trying on glasses, ask yourself whether the glasses you’re wearing achieve the look that fits your personality.

Need Eyeglasses? Contact Lappen Eye Care

If you’re in need of eye glasses in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, contact Lappen Eye Care. We stock a range of eye glasses in our stores, including plastic and wire rimmed. Call today to learn more.